Facebook team to visit Pakistan to discuss blasphemous content issue

ISLAMABAD: Interior Ministry Spokesman on Thursday said that the Facebook administration has agreed to send a delegation to address reservations of the Pakistan government regarding blasphemous content on the social media.

In a statement, he said that the Facebook administration has nominated a focal person for maintaining constant contact with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

The spokesman said that the government has received a written reply from the Facebook administration stating that they are fully aware of Pakistan’s concerns over blasphemous content and they are ready to solve the matter with consultation and dialogue.

Earlier today, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said that Pakistan will lead the Muslim community and take action against blasphemous content on social media platforms, which he termed as a conspiracy against Islam.

He said that there will be no compromise on the sanctity of respected personalities of Islam. He expressed disappointment over silence of Muslim community on the issue.

“Such offensive content has been posted on social media for several years. I am surprised that no other Muslim country raised the issue till now,” he said vowing that they will go to any extent to take action against such offensive content.

He further added that Foreign Office has been tasked to appoint a representative in US to liaison with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and social media websites on a regular basis.

“Facebook and other social media plat forms should share all information about the people behind blasphemous content with us,” he said adding that they can take extreme steps but it will not solve the problem.